While Google’s Pixel line has gained momentum over the years, I’ve always felt that Samsung’s Galaxy S series was the safer bet. It delivered a more premium build, faster internals, and a strong reliability track record. But with the Pixel 10 series now officially announced, Google seems to have addressed those shortcomings head-on.
That begs the question: Is the Pixel 10 good enough to take on the Galaxy S25 series? While we haven’t had extended time with Google’s flagship phones yet, even on paper, it’s clear that the search giant is taking the competition seriously. Samsung has mostly stuck to iterative changes with the Galaxy S25 series, but the Pixel 10 brings wholesale upgrades that will likely shape the smartphone industry’s future. Still, Google’s phone is not better than the competition in every aspect, so how does the Pixel 10 stack up vs the Galaxy S25? Let me break it down.
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Google Pixel 10 vs Samsung Galaxy S25: Specs
Specs Samsung Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus Google Pixel 10 and 10 Pro Specs Display
Samsung Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus Galaxy S25: 6.2-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display, 2,600 nits peak brightness
Galaxy S25 Plus: 6.7-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display, 2,600 nits peak brightness
120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate
Google Pixel 10 and 10 Pro Pixel 10: 6.3-inch Actua display, 60-120Hz Refresh Rate, 3000 nits peak brightness
Pixel 10 Pro: 6.3-inch Super Actua display, 1-120Hz Refresh Rate, 3300 nits peak brightness
Specs Processor
Samsung Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy
Google Pixel 10 and 10 Pro Google Tensor G5
Specs Main Camera
Samsung Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus 50MP Wide AF OIS
12MP Ultrawide
10MP 3x Tele AF OIS
Google Pixel 10 and 10 Pro Pixel 10: 48 MP Wide AF OIS, 13MP Ultrawide, 10MP 3x Telephoto
Pixel 10 Pro: 50MP Wide, 48MP Ultrawide, 48MP 5x Telephoto
Specs Selfie Camera
Samsung Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus 12MP Wide AF
Google Pixel 10 and 10 Pro Pixel 10: 10.5MP Wide AF
Pixel 10 Pro: 42MP Ultra-wide AF
Specs Memory and Storage
Samsung Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus Galaxy S25: 12GB RAM | 128GB storage
Galaxy S25 Plus: 12GB RAM | 256GB storage
Google Pixel 10 and 10 Pro 16GB RAM | 128GB storage
Specs Battery
Samsung Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus Galaxy S25: 4,000mAh
Galaxy S25 Plus: 4,900mAh
Google Pixel 10 and 10 Pro Pixel 10: 4970mAh
Pixel 10 Pro: 4870mAh
Specs Dimensions and Weight
Samsung Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus Galaxy S25: 70.5 x 146.9 x 7.2, 162g
Galaxy S25 Plus: 75.8 x 158.4 x 7.3, 190g
Google Pixel 10 and 10 Pro Pixel 10: 152.8 x 72.0 x 8.6 mm, 204g
Pixel 10 Pro: 152.8 x 72.0 x 8.6 mm, 207g
Specs OS
Samsung Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus Android 15 / One UI 7
Google Pixel 10 and 10 Pro Android 16 / Pixel UI
Specs Durability
Samsung Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus IP68
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Armor Aluminum (Frame)
Google Pixel 10 and 10 Pro IP68
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Starting off with the smallest phones, the Pixel 10 and the Galaxy S25, the first thing you’ll notice is how different the phones feel in the hand. The Galaxy S25 is one of the smallest Android phones on the market, and it weighs a mere 165 grams. The Pixel 10 only has a 0.1-inch larger display on paper, but it clocks in at a hefty 204 grams and is larger in every dimension. So if you’re in the market for a compact phone, Samsung takes a healthy lead.
The size gap narrows significantly as you move up the lineup, but the S25 Plus is still about 17g lighter than the Pixel 10 and 10 Pro. This middle Samsung flagship even delivers a larger 6.7-inch display, which is closer to the Pixel 10 Pro XL’s 6.9-inch figure. On the other hand, the Pixel 10 and 10 Pro share the same dimensions and have the same 6.3-inch display sizes.
The advantage to the Pixel 10’s heftier build is a significantly larger battery. While the Galaxy S25 includes an adequate 4000mAh cell, Google went all out and included a near-5,000mAh battery in the Pixel 10. The Pixel 10 Pro’s battery is slightly smaller, but at 4,870mAh, it’s still slightly larger than the Galaxy S25 Plus’ 4,700mAh. This means you’re trading battery capacity for weight on the Samsung phones, but that can make for a less fatiguing usage experience.
Pixel 10 Galaxy S25
The Pixel 10 series’ displays can get brighter than those found on the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus. However, we have reached the point of diminishing returns and you may not see a major difference in the real world, except under direct sunlight.
Moving on to performance, Google’s Tensor chips have typically lagged behind the competition in terms of speed, efficiency, or both. However, this generation marks the first time Google has switched to TSMC’s 3nm node — rival chipmakers already made this move several years ago. This spells good news for the Tensor G5’s performance and battery life compared to its predecessors. That said, the Galaxy S25 is much less of an unknown variable with its use of the tried and tested Snapdragon 8 Elite chip.
Google has always emphasized that its Tensor line is custom-built for AI workloads, but Samsung has caught up in recent years too. In fact, the Galaxy AI suite is now just as vast as Google’s and new features tend to trickle down to older generations too. The Galaxy S25 also supports most of Google’s AI features via the Gemini and Google Photos apps, so you gain more from Samsung’s ecosystem. Both phones have the same amount of RAM, and are equally equipped to handle AI tasks. However, the Pixel 10 Pro does have a slight lead with 16GB of RAM vs the Galaxy S25 Plus’ 12GB.
The Pixel 10 takes big steps forward
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
In the age of yearly incremental improvements, the Pixel 10 defies expectations. It’s the first mainstream Android phone to feature Qi2 wireless charging with support for the standard’s Magnetic Power Profile. This means that you can wirelessly charge your phone faster and more efficiently, similar to MagSafe on the iPhone. The benefits extend beyond charging too – Qi2 means support for magnetic accessories like wallet cases, stands, and more. That said, you can also reap these benefits if you simply use a case with built-in magnets on the S25.
Unfortunately, the Pixel 10 and 10 Pro do not support Qi2.2’s higher 25W maximum charging power. Instead, these phones maintain the 15W limit enforced by the original Qi standard. This means that you won’t notice faster wireless charging on the Pixel 10 vs the Galaxy S25. The larger Pixel 10 Pro XL is the exception since it supports 25W wireless charging.
Wired charging speed is another mixed bag. The smaller Pixel 10 and 10 Pro don’t pull more than 30W from the adapter. This is technically faster than the base Galaxy S25, but it’s significantly slower than the 45W maximum on the S25 Plus. For that, you’ll once again have to step up to the Pixel 10 Pro XL. While 30W is technically an upgrade for previous Pixel owners, it’s rather slow in the overall Android market where brands like OnePlus are pushing 100W.
The Pixel 10 supports Qi2 for magnetic wireless charging and accessory support.
Photography remains one of the biggest reasons to pick a top-tier Google or Samsung phone, but picking between them isn’t so easy. The Pixel 10 has gained a telephoto sensor, while Samsung’s entire flagship lineup has included one for years. However, you only get 3x zoom on the Galaxy S25, while the Pixel 10 can go up to 5x. You’ll need to step up all the way to the S25 Ultra for a truly capable 50MP 5x zoom sensor. The less princely Pixel 10 Pro offers 5x zoom at a similar price point as the S25 Plus.
Put simply, the base Pixel 10 trades blows with the Galaxy S25 in the photography department. But stepping up to the Pixel 10 Pro nets you markedly better imaging specs vs the similarly priced Galaxy S25 Plus. Google always reserves its best sensors for the Pro phones, so you’ll want to reach for those if camera quality matters to you. And that applies across the board, from the ultrawide to the selfie shooter. For example, the Pixel 10 Pro’s selfie camera can fit more in the frame, thanks to an upgraded 103-degree field-of-view, than the S25 Plus.
In terms of software and processing, both phones have a slew of AI editing features up their sleeves. Google has also put a lot of stock into its new 100x Pro Res Zoom mode on the Pixel 10 Pro phones — the company claims can deliver better results than the competition using the power of generative AI. We haven’t tested the camera system yet, though, so stay tuned for our full review, where we’ll put that claim to the test.
Finally, one important distinction between Google and Samsung’s flagship phones is that the Pixel 10 series no longer includes a physical SIM card slot in the US. International models still include a SIM slot, but you will need to fully embrace eSIMs if you buy one in North America. On the other hand, the Galaxy S25 supports physical SIMs regardless of where you buy it.
Which phone would you rather buy, the Pixel 10 or Galaxy S25? 35 votes Google Pixel 10 51 % Samsung Galaxy S25 49 %
Google Pixel 10 vs Samsung Galaxy S25: Which flagship should you buy?
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
Google Pixel 10 : Starts at $799
: Starts at $799 Google Pixel 10 Pro: Starts at $999 Samsung Galaxy S25 : Starts at $799
: Starts at $799 Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus: Starts at $999
Neither Google nor Samsung raised prices this generation, so we’re thankfully still looking at a sub-$1,000 price point for the entry to mid-level models. That said, Samsung’s flagship phones hit the market several months prior to the Pixel 10 series. This means you’re more likely to find the Galaxy S25 on sale, below its launch price, compared to the Pixel 10.
But during the holiday season and beyond, you will likely find both phones around the same price point. At that point, I feel like the Pixel 10 stretches your hard-earned dollars further. The larger battery, slightly faster charging, and Qi2 support also make Google’s flagship more appealing than Samsung’s equivalent. The only reason to favor the latter would be the S25’s compact build, but I personally find it a bit too small. If you have larger hands like I do, the Pixel 10 is just large enough to offer a comfortable typing experience.
The Pixel 10 scores a few notable wins over the Galaxy S25, making Google's flagship my favorite this generation.
When comparing the Pixel 10 Pro vs the Galaxy S25 Plus, the decision becomes a bit more complicated. The latter packs a larger display, charges at a significantly faster 45W, and offers 256GB of base storage – double that of Google’s equivalent flagship. Still, the Pixel 10 Pro has a much more capable set of cameras, and it isn’t that much smaller than the Galaxy S25 Plus. And with the larger battery in the Pixel 10 Pro, you likely won’t run into any fast charging limitations anyway. The 128GB of base storage does sting, but given that I exclusively rely on Google One for my photos, I’ve never needed more.
So in my opinion, if you’re shopping for a flagship under $1,000 this generation, Google’s offering is the more compelling package. That said, Samsung’s phones aren’t inferior by any means. I’m only hoping that the next Galaxy S release learns from the Pixel 10 and offers more substantial upgrades than the S25 did.
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